Thursday, June 11, 2015

Hey everybody, it's Truffles! Today I am very excited to be interviewing Noe-Noe, the lady love of Thumper from Elaine Faber's Black Cat mystery series. Last summer I interviewed Thumper and reviewed the first book in the series, Black Cat's Legacy. Following today's interview we'll be reviewing book 3, the just released Black Cat & the Accidental Angel.Please leave a comment below with your email address for the chance to win an ebook copy of book 2, Black Cat & the Lethal Lawyer, the book where Noe-Noe first meets Thumper. (Ends at noon eastern on Wednesday, June 17th.)

Truffles: Welcome, Noe-Noe. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. Could you start by telling us a little about yourself and how you came to meet your great love, Thumper?

Noe-Noe: Thumper was already paw-deep in solving mysteries and getting to the bottom of cold case murders in Black Cat’s Legacy. But, that was long before we met. Then destiny brought him and his family to Grandmother’s Texas horse ranch where I lived. When we met, he was completely smitten by my “eyes the color of mustard and stripes the color of marigolds.” It was love at first bite…er...sight! And, what a whirlwind romance it was… (Sigh)

You can read all about it in Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer. The title refers to Wilbur, Grandmother’s attorney. Grandmother gave him boo-koo money for his charitable Children’s Society. Turns out, Thumper’s person, Kimberlee, discovered that Wilbur’s charity was a big scam! That’s when Wilbur decided he had to kill Grandmother before she disinherited the charity and left her estate to her granddaughter. Thumper and I joined forces against a killer to protect Grandma.

Does your name Noe-Noe have any special meaning? It's very unusual.

Grandmother named me Noe-Noe because I was always getting into things I shouldn’t and she’d yell, “No! No!” Guess the name just stuck and she decided to pretty it up a little by adding an ‘E’ on the end. She told Kimberlee about me while sharing how her stable master, Harold, came to the ranch. Seems that Kimberlee felt all day-ja-vooey when she first saw him. She thought he might be the man suspected of killing her father twenty-five years ago. Could he be living there on Grandma’s ranch under an assumed identity? Something to worry about! More important thing to worry about…Thumper was leaving Texas in a few days. I might never see my Ro-Meow again.

On the way home from Texas, our persons had an MVA. Our carrier was left behind and we were on our own. Thumper was hurt and had amnesia, and I…well, I had my reasons for calling myself Angel. Thumper couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t tell him his real name or share our past, but as the story progressed, it became clear.

You and Thumper have quite the adventure in this book, and you in particular go through a great deal. Anything you would like to tease readers with about what they'll find when they start reading?

We were taken in by John and his daughter, Cindy, who changed Thumper’s name to Black Cat. (Go figure...) Increasingly dangerous pranks endangered Cindy’s safety. Even though we became quit fond of John and Cindy, Thumper wanted to go home but I felt we should, protect Cindy and help John solve his problems. I was only there here to help Thumper regain his memory and then… Well, suffice it to say that it’s a real page-turner as Black Cat encounters thrill after thrill on our latest adventure.

Any clues as to what's next for you and Thumper?

Black Cat and the Accidental Angel is our last adventure. Mom Elaine is working on a new series with a new character, elderly, eccentric Mrs. Odboddy, set during WWII. Never fear, our cat-lover friends will still get their kitty-fix with Ling-Ling, her cross-eyed Siamese cat. As for another Black Cat book? Mom has another story in her head, but no immediate plans to write it. She’s waiting to see how the first three books fare.

About the author: Elaine Faber’s short stories are published in magazines and multiple anthologies. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime, Inspire Christian Writers and Cat Writers Association.

Elaine authors the Black Cat Mysteries involving Thumper, the cat who solves mysteries with the aid of his ancestors’ memories: Black Cat’s Legacy, Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer, and Black Cat and the Accidental Angel.

Elaine lives in Elk Grove with her husband of 53 years. (That’s a marriage of 53 years, not a husband of 53 years). They share their home with four house cats, the inspiration for her Black Cat Mysteries. A portion of book sales goes to animal rescue programs.

About Black Cat and the Accidental Angel: When the family SUV flips and Kimberlee is rushed to the hospital, Black Cat (Thumper) and his soul-mate are left behind. Black Cat loses all memory of his former life and the identity of the lovely feline companion by his side. “Call me Angel. I’m here to take care of you.” Her words set them on a long journey toward home, and life brings them face to face with episodes of joy and sorrow.

The two cats are taken in by John and his young daughter, Cindy, facing foreclosure of the family vineyard and emu farm. In addition, someone is playing increasingly dangerous pranks that threaten Cindy’s safety. Angel makes it her mission to help their new family. John’s prayers are answered in unexpected ways, but not until Angel puts her life at risk to protect the child, and Black Cat finds there are more important things in life than knowing your real name.

Even though I’ve been a cat lady since the day I was born, as a little girl one of my favorite television shows was The Littlest Hobo. Do you remember the stray German Shepherd who roamed from town to town befriending and helping people in need?

Each family would attempt to adopt him, but at the end of every episode he hit the road again for his next adventure. My mother has often reminded me how I was left in tears every single week when he ended up on his own once again (apparently I didn’t quite understand the concept of the show). Then there was Lassie…something was always happening that would separate her from Timmy, and oh the adventures she would find with the people she met on her way home to him.

I recently read a wonderful mystery that reminded me of these special shows from my childhood: Black Cat and the Accidental Angel by Elaine Faber, the third book in her delightful Black Cat mystery series.

Told mainly from the cats’ point of view, I found myself caring deeply about the humans in the story too, and my heart was touched by the bond that Black Cat, Angel, John and Cindy formed in such a short period of time. More than once I teared up at the thought that by the end of the book they would have to say good-bye, but it was done in a way that left me with happy tears at the turn of the last page.

Even if you haven’t read the first two books in the series, this one stands on its own as a very special story with important life lessons, a beautiful feline romance, and a cast of characters that you will find hard to forget.Links and Purchase sites:

Just out of curiosity - were the DVDs of the color 1980s episodes? I also watched the show as a child and I know that my daughter would love it but the only DVDs I've come across are of the 1960s black and white version.

You have no idea. Thumper learns a lot of life lessons in Accidental Angel... Lessons that humans should learn but sometimes don't, until it's too late. Come and share our adventure. You'll be glad you did.Noe-Noe and MOM ELAINE

I know the love of a black cat. My Romeo Luigi is all black with Siamese heritage somewhere along the genetic path. The minute I am out of his sight, he sings me a tune until he finds me. Just got to love that cat. robeader53@yahoo.com

My Amber (the muse for Noe-Noe, pictured above) is my little follower. Can't hardly move without a 'lump' on my chest (if lying down) or a lump on my knees (if working at the computer). Are they a joy? Elaine

Especially a 'cat mystery' writer, right? Would love to have a fan from Wildcat Woods. Sounds like a place I'd like to visit. I'll try to track down all the folks who visit today (if names or tags lead me to a website.)

Please check out my website for more about Thumper and my mysteries. You can also go to each one on Amazon and read the blurb about the plot. To know me is to love me...Oh! Did I say that out loud? Meow! Thumper

Truffles, as always, a won-purr-ful interview! Noe-Noe, I certainly hope to read about you and Thumper in much more detail; thank you for the chance to win a copy of the mystery where the two of you meet! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

Good luck, Jeanie. If you don't win the free copy, our book is just $3.99 at Amazon. And if you don't like it, I'll give you your money back! See how confident I am? And handsome... and humble. Thumper